Cole Hamels Rumors: Sunday

The Angels, Dodgers, Rangers, Pirates, Tigers, Marlins, and Giants were reportedly among the teams with scouts in attendance for Cole Hamels' start against the Rockies this afternoon, though keep in mind that a scouting presence does not always imply trade interest in a particular player. The lefty didn't disappoint, dealing eight innings of one-run ball at Coors Field. The Rangers sent Don Welke, the senior special assistant to GM Jon Daniels, to Denver and Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com reports Texas wants Hamels bad. Here are the latest rumors on the prized left-hander with the latest up top:

Hamels doesn't seem concerned about his uncertain future, telling reporters after his victory, "That's the least of my worries."

The Phillies' forthcoming offer to Hamels is "expected to be in the ballpark that they know the left-hander will want, this close to free agency," tweets ESPN's Buster Olney. I'm guessing Hamels would have his eye on a contract worth $23-25MM annually over six-plus years, if he reaches free agency. – Tim Dierkes

The Phillies are still "trying like heck" to sign Hamels, reports Salisbury.

The Phillies have a scout attending the Angels–Yankees game fueling speculation the Halos could be in on Hamels, writes Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Heyman lists 10 teams that could be interested in Hamels, as well as the Brewers' Zack Greinke.

In the same piece, Heyman quotes one official who says there's a 30% chance the Phillies sign Hamels to a long-term extension.

Outside executives believe the Phillies will work feverishly to extend Hamels rather than trade him, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Sherman provides three reasons for such a theory, including that it's harder than ever to land a commensurate package for a star in his walk year given the rule changes in the new collective bargaining agreement.

Comments

” harder than ever to land a commensurate package for a star in his walk
year given the rule changes in the new collective bargaining agreement.”

The master quote and what we don’t know.. the offers given so far for Hamels since any potential suitor for him will not get compensation and Philly will. Philly will want at least compensation of at least a 1st round + a supplemental choice and a potential partner may not be willing to offer that.

The new CBA puts a huge wrinkle into the trade deadline, especially for top 20% potential FA.

I firmly believe that the Phillies will resign Hamels, especially after he completely dominated the Rockies today, showing once again just how good he is.

That being said, in the unlikely event that he gets traded, the overwhelming favorites have to be the Rangers and the Angels, who besides both having better farms than the Dodgers won’t want to face Hamels down the stretch and/or in the playoffs. Everybody else, including the Tigers, Dodgers, Yankees, etc are distant 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc.

Rangers won’t deal Olt for a rental. Not when we don’t have to. In 2010 we didn’t have much of a pitching staff and most were really young, and all had zero playoff experience. Cliff Lee was almost a necessity. This season, Hamels is a luxery, not nearly a necessity. Texas has so much else to offer that there is no need to include Olt in the deal.

Luis Sardinas is a SS who they could move to 3B. I just don’t see any way Philly gets Olt in this deal. If we were at least getting him for a season and a half, definitely, but yea.
I fully trust Jon Daniels not to make a poor deal.

Phillies will have no interest in a guy 3-4 years away with absolutely no power. They have Maikel Franco who is a Better 3B prospect than him already in their minors. They want top level talent (AA or AAA)

Oh definitely. If you told me trading Olt to either PHI or ARI would win the Rangers the WS I’d take that deal in a heartbeat. Problem is that Hamels, or Upton guarantee nothing.
In fact, I think it was either Lonestarball or BBTIA that did an article that calculated out somehow (Ican’t remember) that Hamels only gives the Rangers an extra 1.2%, or so, at winning the WS.

It’s nice to say the Rangers don’t have to move Olt and won’t move him for a rental but we don’t know any of that. That’s certainly the first name off the Phillies’ lips and if he’s a must (as 3B is such a huge organizational need), then they might just say they’re keeping him.

I think the money was relatively close. Yanks and Rangers just offered one extra year. Supposedly Cliff told the Rangers is they offered 6 he’d come back, but then when they offered that he upped it to 7. I guess it was a blessing in disguise. Texas would be handcuffed right now otherwise.

I think the Angels should give all their top prospects to the Phillies for him. Then he can get a nice home and get settled back in Southern California, before the offseason in which he goes to the Dodgers as a free agent.

I have a hard time seeing Cole Hamels turn down a 6 year $144 million dollar contract (or $138-$140 ish) if that is in fact the offer they’re going to make. If he does, I think you’ve got to trade him. 7 years $162+ million isn’t worth it.

I say if Cole Hamels rejects any of those deals then he just wants out of
Philadelphia period. Where would you rather be a millionaire and still play
for a contender? In his first home in Phillie? or his real home and close to
his family in S.California?

They were saying on the radio after the game they offered him a 5 yr/$122 million deal, which he supposedly rejected. I don’t know how true this is but it was mentioned on the post game, so it sounds believable to me.

I doubt it as well. Obviously that’s the most ideal for the Phillies (and maybe even Hamels).

I still think that in the offseason they may take offers for Haaday. It would be a 1 year 20 million dollar ace with draft compensation. I’m sure the offers would at least equivalent to what they gave up if not more. (D’Arnaud is really the only prospect working out right now because of Drabeks injury)

Yes, the Dodgers have money but that doesn’t set them apart from anything. Hamels sees himself as more of an east coast guy at this time in his career and wants to play in a more intense environment. If LAD backs up the Brinks truck then they can certainly get him, but this isn’t some situation where the player desperately wants to go home. And for that matter, “home” is San Diego, not LA.

Looks like my reply to you was deleted, maybe because I linked to another story? Anyways, Cole Hamels recently said in an interview that playing for the Dodgers would be like “coming home”. He mentions that he loves playing on the West Coast and that playing in LA would be more of a homecoming than playing for the Padres. I don’t think anything is being overstated there.

He was asked if he’d play for the Dodgers, to which he said, it would be like coming home. It’s the only “home” team he would pitch for because he knows the Padres aren’t a winning organization. He said he likes pitching on the West Coast because his numbers are great against the NL and AL West.

Please post the article where he said that? I can post articles where he says Philadelphia is his home (year round) and he considers te east cost his home now. I can also post interviews where he says he wants to pitch for an East Coast team because nothing compares to how into the game the fans are over here(NY, Bos etc).

You just contradicted yourself in the same comment. You said the same thing I did, but in different words, that he said playing for the Dodgers would be like “coming home.” You then wrote the exact opposite saying that playing for the Padres would be more of a home coming. I’m confused.

Both the Dodgers and Angels have the money and need more pitching to get on top in their division. I would think they both will make a run a Hamels. We will know by next week whether Hamels is going to sign with the Phils. Once that happens, the other pitchers like Garza, Greinke, and Dempster will be next.

Last time I posted a link my comment was deleted. I can say it was with CSN Philly about a week ago, just google it. But here’s what he said when asked about playing for the Dodgers:
“It’s going home, I mean, that’s pretty much it. I know the West Coast really well. I pitch really well on the west coast. I think it’s appealing to every player when they’re growing up that, one day, hoping they can play in the major leagues, it’s always to play for your home team. Even though the Padres were obviously the home team I grew up with, the Dodgers were kind of there neck and neck, so I think that’s the closest home team I would ever get to.”

If The Phils offered him 6 years he’d be signed… Think hed do 5 years with a 6 year option considering he wants to return. Fact is The Phils lowballed him to start. Amaro completely screwed up the negotiation. I think The Phils are throwing out damage control now with these “substantial offer” reports. This will cover them when he walks and signs with Boston or Texas in the offseason.

If they come in with a 5 year contract with a 6 year option he’ll likely be signed by next weekend. I’m just not sure I believe the reports

Is there any reason they shouldn’t, though? Lewis was basically given a DL stint to get some rest, Ogando and Uehara will rejoin the team tomorrow after dominating their rehab appearances, and Lowe & Feliz are kind of fringe guys anyway (in that, Feliz’ spot was already replaced by Oswalt, so I doubt he will resume starting unless someone else goes down).

Yea one of them could all of a sudden tank, but that’s the case with any pitcher on any team at any time.